Disentangling fire intensity and species’ susceptibility to fire in a species-rich seasonal tropical forest

Abstract

Increasing temperatures and human activity are likely to reduce fire return intervals in the seasonal tropics. Anticipating how more frequent fires may alter forest community structure and composition requires understanding how fire intensity and species-specific responses to fires interact to drive fire-induced mortality for large numbers of species. We developed an analytical framework to estimate unobserved fire intensities and species- and size-specific susceptibility to fire using observed mortality data. We used census data from a 50-ha forest dynamics plot in western Thailand to better understand species and community responses to a fire that burned ∼60% of the plot in 2005. Trees spe..